🦅 300 Eagles Spotted in One Day

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Our team is starting to turn its attention to October, and we have a question for all the event organizers and business owners out there: What cool Halloween stuff is happening around the Bow Valley? We like to think we have our ear to the ground, but it never hurts to ask in case something has slipped past us. If you’ve got something Halloween-related coming up, fill out this quick questionnaire. We’re putting together some Halloween content over the next week.

-Ben S., Cassandra Stefanic, Fortune Whelan, Brendan Nogue, Alexia Chambers, Keith Fernandes

UP TO 300 GOLDEN EAGLES A DAY COULD SOON PASS THROUGH KANANASKIS

What’s Happening? Look up. Way up. Kananaskis is heading into the busiest stretch of its fall golden eagle migration, when as many as 250 to 300 eagles can pass through on a good day.

Think Of It As An Eagle Highway. Every fall, golden eagles heading south use the Rockies as a natural migration corridor. Winds hitting the ridges create updrafts that help the birds stay in the air and cover long distances without constantly flapping.

One of those routes passes Hay Meadow near Troll Falls, where volunteers with the Rocky Mountain Eagle Research Foundation spend their days scanning the ridgelines and counting the birds overhead.

And Things Are Picking Up. The migration usually peaks between Oct. 5 and 21. On Sept. 27, observers counted 55 golden eagles, including 19 in just one hour, bringing the fall total to 91.

But 250 eagles in a day doesn’t mean the sky suddenly fills with them.

“A lot of tiny dots in the sky flying high above the ridges,” is how assistant observer Allison Zukewich described it.

There can be long stretches without much happening. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, several eagles can pass through one after another.

Want To See Them? Bring Binoculars And Some Patience. There’s no guaranteed time to catch the action, but Zukewich said roughly 11 AM to 5 PM can be a good window, and she generally recommends the afternoon.

Visitors are welcome to join the observers at Hay Meadow. Binoculars are pretty important since the eagles can be tough to spot with the naked eye, although the foundation has a limited number available to lend.

And plan to stay awhile. Bring layers, food and water, and dress warmer than you might expect. Sitting still in a meadow gets chilly pretty quickly once the sun disappears behind the mountains.

Volunteers will be out counting every day through Nov. 15. If you’re driving, you’ll also need a Kananaskis Conservation Pass.

And It’s Not Just Golden Eagles. A day spent staring at the sky can turn up plenty of other birds. On Sept. 27, observers also spotted bald eagles, an osprey, Cooper’s hawk, sharp-shinned hawk and prairie falcon.

That unpredictability is part of the appeal. As Zukewich put it, once someone finally picks out one of those distant dots and realizes what they’re looking at, “it gets really exciting.”

Read our full story

WANT A FREE SUB EVERY WEEK FOR A YEAR?

Well, this should make your lunch plans considerably easier.

To celebrate its new Canmore location, Firehouse Subs is giving away one free sub every week for an entire year to one lucky winner.

And entering is pretty simple.

Stop by the new Firehouse Subs at 320 Cascade Drive in Three Sisters anytime during October and scan the in-store QR code to enter the giveaway.

Need an excuse to make the trip? With Thanksgiving approaching, there's a pretty good one.

For a limited time, Firehouse is bringing back its Thanksgiving Turkey Sub, made with carved turkey breast, savoury stuffing, cranberry sauce and mayo on a toasted roll. 

This year, it's also joined by new holiday sides, including gravy for dunking, Extra Cheesy Mac & Cheese and a Double Chocolate Chip Cookie.

So grab lunch, scan the QR code while you're there, and you could turn one visit into 52 more.

Not a bad return on a sandwich.

_{*Presented by Firehouse Subs.}

THE DIGEST

• 🛞 Heading Out Of The Bow Valley? Check Your Tires. A fall drive out of the Bow Valley can take you into different winter-tire rules without ever leaving the highway. B.C.’s requirements begin Oct. 1 on routes toward Golden, Revelstoke and Radium, while snow tires or chains become mandatory Nov. 1 on Highway 93 South in Alberta and the Icefields Parkway. B.C. accepts M+S or three-peak mountain snowflake tires with at least 3.5 mm of tread. If that tire jargon doesn’t make any sense, check the rules, as fines can reach up to $121.

• 🚲 Banff Drops Bike Lane With No Fix For Railway Crossings. Banff has scrapped its latest plan to improve walking and cycling access to the Industrial District after finding there was no safe, workable way to connect the proposed bike lane to town. That leaves a familiar problem unresolved. The legal route can add up to two kilometres to some trips, while a shortcut across the CPKC tracks sees roughly 7,000 to 8,000 one-way crossings a month in summer. The Town says a legal crossing at the shortcut isn’t currently feasible, and there’s no replacement project in the works.

• 🐟 Could Some Alberta Trout Resist Whirling Disease? Researchers are studying whether some Alberta trout have genetic traits that make them more resistant to whirling disease. That’s particularly relevant here: the parasite was first detected in Alberta at Banff’s Johnson Lake in 2016, and earlier this year, we reported it had now been detected in Lake Louise and Louise Creek. Whirling disease can cause deformities and high mortality in young trout, and its continued spread has helped prompt tighter rules around watercraft and fishing gear across the mountain parks.

• 🔒 Banff Upper Hot Springs Is Closing Again. Just over six months after reopening from an extended shutdown, the Upper Hot Springs will close Oct. 13 for several weeks of planned fall maintenance. Parks Canada says crews will service equipment, repair interior stairs, deep clean, and continue work on the roof deck, with reopening expected in early November. The closure was planned, but comes after a much larger rehabilitation project kept the hot springs closed months longer than originally expected last winter. An exact reopening date hasn’t been announced.

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GRAFFITI AT LAKE LOUISE COULD COME WITH A $25K FINE

What’s Happening? Parks Canada is investigating graffiti found on rocks near Devil’s Thumb, the popular hike and viewpoint above Lake Louise. Photos shared online show writing across several rocks along the hiking route, and what appears to be a marker left behind.

Yes, Writing On The Rocks Is Illegal. Rocks are considered “natural objects” under federal national park regulations, alongside things like soil, fossils and minerals. Removing, defacing, damaging or destroying them is prohibited unless specifically authorized.

James Eastham, a Parks Canada spokesperson for the Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay field unit, told Bow Valley Insider the agency is aware of the photos circulating online and that the incident is now under investigation.

“National parks are shared spaces, and visitor actions matter,” Eastham said.

And The Fine Can Be Steep. Parks Canada says anyone found responsible could be required to appear in court and face fines of up to $25,000. It’s not yet clear who wrote on the rocks or when it happened.

This Isn’t Lake Louise’s First Cleanup Controversy This Year. In January, another incident at Lake Louise sparked a Parks Canada investigation after pink powder, metallic confetti and streamers from an apparent gender reveal were left on the frozen lake.

A witness told Bow Valley Insider she spent about an hour collecting the metallic confetti so it wouldn’t end up in the lake when the ice melted. Parks Canada confirmed that littering is also an offence that can result in a court appearance and similar fines.

Know Something? Parks Canada is asking anyone with information that could help with the Devil’s Thumb investigation to contact Banff Dispatch at 403-762-1470.

Read our full story

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Truth & Reconciliation Day Gathering And Walk. Historic Morleyville will host a Truth & Reconciliation Day breakfast, blessing and walk. Breakfast begins at 9 AM, followed by a Blessing and Pipe Ceremony at 10:30 AM and the 2.8 km Every Child Matters Walk to Mînî Thnî at 11 AM. Powwow dancing, speakers and a BBQ follow. Bring a food donation for the Îyârhe Nakoda Food Bank and dress for the weather.

Thursday

• Last Canmore Summer Market Of The Season. This is your final chance to browse the Canmore market at Elevance Place before it wraps up for 2026. Expect the usual mix of fresh produce, baked goods, local food, handmade goods, jewellery and other finds from regional vendors, with live music throughout the day. 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Elevation Place, Canmore. Free. 

• Chess Night. Whether you play every week or barely remember how the pieces move, Canmore Library’s weekly Chess Night is open to all ages and skill levels. Drop in for a game, meet other local players, and maybe pick up a new trick or two. Chess sets are provided, though you can bring your own. 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Canmore Library. Free. 

• Free Documentary Screening At LUX Cinema. Catch a free screening of The Librarians, a 2026 Emmy-winning documentary following U.S. librarians fighting book bans and defending intellectual freedom. The 92-minute film looks at battles over books and censorship in Texas, Florida, and beyond. 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. LUX Cinema, Banff. Free, but advance tickets are required. 

BANFF PRIDE STARTS THIS FRIDAY. HERE’S HOW TO TAKE PART.

Banff Pride begins this Friday, October 2, kicking off 11 days of events across town.

The easiest place to start is the March and Flag Raising at 4 PM on Bear Street. It’s free, outdoors, open to all ages and takes about an hour. There’s no ticket and nothing to prepare. Just show up.

From there, the festival schedule includes drag, live music, bingo, dance parties, family-friendly activities and events running late into the night. Some require tickets and may sell out, so now is the time to decide what you want to attend.

Throughout the festival, you can also experience Pride around town through Taste the Rainbow, featuring Pride-inspired drinks, desserts and specials at 30 participating Banff venues.

Looking for another way to support the festival? Banff Pride is running two raffles. One winner will receive half the 50/50 jackpot, while another will win a two-day Rocky Mountaineer journey for two, valued at up to $6,298. Check raffle details here.

And one more date to save: the free Banff Pride Market runs Saturday, October 10, from 10 AM to 5 PM at Mason Hall. Shop handmade jewellery, artwork, fashion, zines, apothecary goods, and other creations from 2SLGBTQ+ artists, makers, and small businesses.

See the full Banff Pride schedule

_{*Presented by Banff Pride.}

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🎰 Glow-In-The-Dark Bingo Is Coming To Banff. Bingo is getting considerably brighter at the Rose & Crown, which is launching BING-GLOW on Oct. 13. The new event will run every other Tuesday, with $20 getting you five bingo cards, glowing swag and either a pint or highball. There are also up to $250 in Rose & Crown gift cards up for grabs. Doors open at 7:30 PM, with bingo starting at 8 PM.*

• ✅ A New Reuse Market Is Coming To Canmore. If you like finding things with a little more character than something fresh off a store shelf, Reuse Rendezvous is bringing pre-loved, upcycled and handmade goods to Creekside Hall on Nov. 7. Expect art, jewellery, household goods and other finds from local vendors, with the broader goal of keeping useful stuff out of the landfill. It’s free to attend, and anyone who RSVPs in advance is entered to win a prize.*

• 🚧 Last Weekend To Cycle The Bow Valley Parkway Without Cars. If you’ve been meaning to ride it, this is your last full weekend of the year. The eastern 17 kilometres of the Bow Valley Parkway, between Fireside and Johnston Canyon, remains closed to public vehicles until Oct. 6, giving cyclists a rare stretch of pavement without regular traffic. The full out-and-back is about 34 kilometres, but shorter rides are easy to build in. We put together a full guide covering where to start, parking, turnaround options and what to bring. 

• 🐻 Bears Are Busy Fattening Up For Winter. Fat Bear Week started in Alaska as an annual celebration of brown bears packing on the pounds before hibernation and has since become an internet phenomenon, with more than 1.7 million votes cast last year to crown the fattest bear. There’s a Bow Valley connection too. WildSmart says local bears are intensely focused on food right now and will be actively fattening up for roughly the next six weeks. If you encounter one feeding, stay at least 100 metres away and don’t try to sneak past it. 

CIVIC NEWS

• Appeal Rejected For 10th Street Development. Canmore’s appeal board has upheld the Town’s refusal of a proposed four-storey mixed-use building at 822 10th Street. The project included two ground-floor commercial spaces and 10 visitor accommodation units, but required six variances under the new Town Centre planning rules. The board found the proposal still departed too far from the area plan on scale, massing, appearance and street interface.

LIVE MUSIC

• Thursday, October 1, 2026, 8:30 PM: Acoustic Arn & DJ Palf. Location: High Roller’s, Banff. No Cover. No Cover.

• Thursday, October 1, 2026, 10:00 PM: 90's & 2000's Hip Hop Night. Location: Sizzler’s, Banff. No Cover. No Cover.

SPORTS

• 15-Year-Old Canmore Golfer Is Heading To Provincials. Myles McKendrick needed to shoot 76 or better to qualify for the Alberta high school golf championships. He did considerably better, firing an even-par 72 at The Canal at Delacour Golf Club. Even more impressive: this is McKendrick’s first season competing in golf tournaments. He’ll now represent Canmore at provincials Sept. 28-29, with two rounds at courses near Edmonton. His goal for the next one? Finish under par across both rounds.

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Friday, same time, same place! 

Heads Up: We sometimes feature paid promotion from local businesses and organizations we trust. When you see a little asterisk (*), that means it’s a sponsored post. We only work with partners we think our readers will actually care about.